Hamlet Anticipation Guide &

Discussion

• On your own, write down your

responses to the 8 statements, using

specific examples.

• When we are done writing, we will

discuss and debate each statement

• Be prepared to share your responses

with the class

Siblings should never

date each other’s exes.

Having a clear goal, and

the ambition to achieve

it, is honorable.

Power eventually

corrupts the people who

have it.

Revenge is sweeter than

forgiving and forgetting.

A person’s intelligence

is largely based on their

economic class and

educational background.

One must take a stand

against injustice, even if

the personal cost is

great.

A woman’s primary

concern should be her

child—if she has one.

Moral courage is more

difficult to accomplish

than physical courage.

11 AP

William Shakespeare’s

HamletNordin/Hornik

Dramatic Conventions

• Dramatic Irony:occurs when the audience knows information that might change the behavior of the characters if they were aware of it

• Shakespeare often changed his style of writing based

upon the social status of his characters

• Prose: Ordinary language used to emphasis

characters of low social status – no rhythm or

rhyme. EC: what is an adjective for this ordinary

language?

• Blank verse: has rhythm but no rhyme

• Iambic Pentameter: Pattern of unstressed and

stressed syllables that uses five patterns to a line;

used to emphasis characters of high social status

Writing Style

EC: Prosaic: boring, ordinary

language.

John Green sums it up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My14mZa-eq8&feature=player_detailpage

• 12 minutes

First recorded production of Hamlet-

by Chamberlain's Men (1600 or 1601)

Likely, Shakespeare composed the play in early 1600.

According to contemporary references, Hamlet became an

instant hit until the closing of the theatres by the Puritans

(1642-1660).

After the theatres re-opened, Hamlet was brought back to

the stage by author and entrepreneur, William Davenant.

Popularity has been constant.

History of Hamlet

Universal Ideas in Hamlet

Death

Revenge (inability to act out revenge)

State of Denmark

Incest and sexuality

Uncertainty

Family Dynamic

Gender (Misogyny)

Ears and Hearing (slipperiness of language)

THEMES – up to you to determine! What would

Shakespeare say about the above ideas based on this

play and his rhetoric?

CharactersHamlet - The Prince of Denmark,/protagonist.

About 30 years old.

Son of Queen Gertrude and the late King Hamlet, and the

nephew of the present king, Claudius (the mom’s new

husband and brother-in-law).

Melancholy, bitter, and cynical.

Hates his uncle’s scheming.

Disgusted by his mother’s sexuality.

Reflective and thoughtful young man.

Has studied at the University of Wittenberg.

Often indecisive and hesitant, but at other times prone to

rash and impulsive acts.

Claudius - (New) King of Denmark, Hamlet’s uncle.

Antagonist/ villain.

Married his dead brother’s widow.

Calculating, ambitious politician, driven by his

sexual appetites and his lust for power.

Occasionally shows signs of guilt and human

feeling. His love for Gertrude, for instance, seems

sincere.

Gertrude - Queen of Denmark, Hamlet’s mother,

recently married Claudius (her dead husband’s

brother).

Loves Hamlet deeply, but she is shallow and weak.

Seeks affection and status more urgently than moral

rectitude or truth.

The fair Ophelia - Polonius’s daughter.

Beautiful and young. Hamlet is in love with her.

Sweet and innocent young woman.

Dependent on men to tell her how to behave.

Obeys her father and her brother, Laertes.

Gives in to Polonius’ (dad) schemes to spy on Hamlet

even though she is in love with Hamlet.

Even in her lapse into madness and death, she

remains maidenly, singing songs about flowers.

Finally drowns in the river amid the flower garlands

she had gathered – even her death is pretty.

•Both protagonists

•Both passionately determined to find the truth.

•Both impulsive.

•Both have immense self-pride, but are ultimately good natured.

•They seek revenge for their fathers (although this is ironic in Oedipus Rex since

Oedipus killed his father unknowingly)

•Although O's arrogance may have led to his downfall, impulsiveness destroys

both men. O's decree of exile parallels the gods' requirements, but Hamlet's

stabbing of Ophelia's father right after NOT stabbing Claudius means that, in the

grand scheme, he must die rather than assume the throne.

•Both plays are tragedies that result from behind-the-scenes machinations--the

gods plot against O's family while King Hamlet's brother plots against him.

•Perhaps the vivid imagery of poison in Hamlet parallels the curse "in the family

blood" in Greek tragedies in Oedipus Rex.

•Both plays - highly poetic language.

Hamlet vs. Oedipus